Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Choices

Have you been thinking about upgrading your furnace, weatherizing your home, or insulating the attic? All of these projects can significantly reduce your monthly energy bills, particularly in the winter months, but they come with a hefty sticker price. You could save up for some fancy new insulation or request weatherstripping in your stockings, but there is a better way. New York now has on-bill-financing of these kinds of upgrades which we know will save money. You can get a guaranteed loan tied to your utility, which pays for the upgrades upfront, and pays for itself out of your savings right on your utility bill. If you move, the upgrades and bills stay behind, saving money for the next owner. 

This is merely one of the innovated financing models available to bridge the gaps between making the right longterm decisions and affording it on the short term.

Check out the simple step-by-step guide to on-bill financing at UnwasteNY: http://www.unwasteny.org/financing

Or Jump right to NYSERDA's program page to learn more: 

http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/on-bill

Button Up That Overcoat

As we head into winter, many of us are budgeting for the increased utility costs that come with the cold weather, but National Grid has some good news for you: the price of natural gas is estimated to go down by 9% this year due to lower negotiated delivery costs, "barring an unseasonably cold winter season," according to a recent article in the Times Union.

While 9% is nothing to shrug at, and could lower a typical family's costs by $50 to $100 over the course of the winter, National Grid continues to emphasize the importance of efficiency, which can save much more. According to the Department of Energy, their weatherization program is saving the average participating household $400 a year on their utility bills.

National Grid recently increased their rebate programs to offer $1,120 to households for upgrading to high efficiency boilers. The rebate on a seven-day programmable thermostat is being increased from $18 to $36. The deal is being offered through Dec. 31. The New York State Public Service Commission has put together a unified resource at http://unwasteny.org to find other programs available to help you increase the efficiency of your home and reduce energy costs.